ARISE- The Sri Lankan Metal Music Documentary (Press Kit)

8/9/2019 ARISE- The Sri Lankan Metal Music Documentary (Press Kit)

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ARISEThe Sri Lankan Metal Music Documentary

ARISE The Sri Lankan Metal Music Documentary

Electronic Press Kit (EPK)


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Original Title AriseThe Sri Lankan Metal Music Documentary

Featuring Funeral In Heaven

Merlock

Cannabis

Fallen Grace

Directed and Produced by Dinesh Guneratne

Naveen Marasinghe

Music Funeral in Heaven, Merlock, Cannabis, Fallen Grace

Length 71 mins

Language English


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Film Synopsis

ARISE is a feature film documentary which takes an in-depth look into the lives of four

underground metal bands in Sri Lanka. This is a country which is virtually unknown when it

comes to metal music. It is only common amongst a handful of dedicated fans and a number of

bands who strive to move ahead amidst many constraints and barriers.

The film tries to explore somewhat different lifestyles and point of views of four metal bands

from the Sri Lankan metal movement who are namely Funeral in Heaven, Merlock, Cannabis

and Fallen Grace.


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Production Notes

Production work for ARISE realized during the latter part of 2008 after months of planning and

trying to secure a camera and other video equipment for the project. At that time we met up

with most of the band members and we were very close friends. Film making was a new aspect

for us and we were both looking for our next project after finishing production on our

electronica project Da Bass Factor.

Sri Lankan metal movement is small but there is an ardent following, there are many bands who

have made their mark in the local scene and capturing even some of them and their point of

view was the sole objective of the project. During gigs we saw what these bands went through,

how they coped with lack of equipment and limited finances and even with these constraints

they were determined to move ahead. In our view it was a story to be told.

We kicked off production covering a number of gigs in 2008 and 2009. The interviews happened

during various months in 2009 where we all had to balance our work, studies and other

commitments to make time for the project. The documentary was filmed with a normal JVC

Mini DV camera which was borrowed from a friend. Production work had to be planned and

sometimes postponed depending on the availability of the equipments. Footage was gathered

from several gigs and sometimes we had to throw hours of recorded material out as they were

just not in good shape due to low lights and noise.

After months of recording and spending hours at editing we were able to finish the

documentary which would not have been a reality without the support of many who stood by

our side and came forward to help us in our time of need. We believe ARISE would give voice to

the many dedicated bands and fans from the Sri Lankan metal movement and would stand as a

tribute to all the bands who helped shape the Metal Movement of this small island nation.


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Formed in early 2003 and hailing from the ancient battlegrounds of Sri Lanka, FUNERAL IN

HEAVEN are known as a project who through the veins of Black Metal, unleash and expose

the country's ominous side of history with its decades of war and notorious chronicles

regarding events of demonology and exorcisms. Known as the initiators of the genre Hela

Black Metal, FUNERAL IN HEAVEN are regarded to blend the cold dirge of Black Metal withingredients of Sri Lankan traditional instrumentation. D.H.S.P.S. EP (Legion of Death

Records) - Two hellish tracks to be released, comprising and drenched of ancient

demonology, decades of civil war and preachings of the afterlife.


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Merlock is a Colombo based Progressive Thrash metal band formed in the latter

part of 2005. They address themes of human nature and war emphasizing on

the darker side of humanity. The band was found by a bunch of kids who were

still schooling. Dumidu (lead guitar, Vocals), Sajith (Guitar), Tharindu (Bass) and

Niroshan (Drums) formed it to give in to the thoughts of finding a way to pass

time. The band played their first gig for a college event after four months of the

formation. In 2006 Tharindu had to leave the country to continue his education

and Dimuthu became the new bassist of Merlock. The band started working on

their first original Crimson Skies after Dimuthu joined. The Crimson Skies EP

was launched in the year 2007 and it became a hit single.

Even thought there was a little time ahead of them, to compete, they became

the Runners up of the TNL onstage 2007. Not only that, they managed to grab

the award for the best original with their hit single Crimson Skies. This also

featured in TNL SL top 10 in 2007.


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The pioneers of Sri Lankan sludge metal, the only known Asian sludge meta

band "cannabis" is a synthesis of the word metal. Front man Dinuk Perry has

defined the bands sound by labeling it under many categories giving

cannabis the technicality it deserves. "Cannabis" is labeled sludge/power

groove/atmospheric/tribal voodoo/ drone metal. Bringing forth trashy riffsblended with a roaring power of Dinuk Perrys vocals crazy stamina of

drummer Leker harsh offensive riffs of bassist Dimmu and the delicate yet

complexity of guitarist Dasa, this four piece metal band from Colombo shows

decisive promise in following footsteps of their brothers in arms F.I.H and

Fallen Grace, by producing the best in Sri Lankan originality but at the same

time bringing a different sound to the realm we call heavy metal. a variety of

heavy and slow riffs are blended with the technicality and sheer brute power

of the drum and bass indisputably a new found gem in the sludge meta

category.


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allen Grace was instigated in Colombo, Sri Lanka by five schooluddies in late 2003 at a time when Hard Rock & Metal music in the

ountry was severely occult and even unheard of. The music industry

as awash gangster-rappers, cheesy pop singers and mundane club

ands that played the same set of covers every night! A change was

dire need! It was this drive to be different, to be original and to

eate music which was raw and above all with substance, that

eated the nucleus of Fallen Grace and which still drives the band to

is day!

ur common belief is that were put on this planet to create and play

usic and nothing else! Our devotion to our art is ardent. Managing

ay jobs and college while carrying the band forward is not an easy

sk, especially in a country with very little or no backers for this

articular genre of music. But as a band it is our central belief that if

ere is a will, there is a way. Due to five years of sheer live insanity

nd the good word of mouth, Fallen Grace have risen from the occult

nd have become a much sort after band not only in the Heavy

etal scene but also in the larger English Music Industry in Sri Lanka.


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About DRG & Marasinghe

DRG and Marasinghe schooled together and got involved in several creative projects ranging

from music to art. After their secondary education DRG did film and television studies in School

of Media Marketing and Management while Marasinghe studied Media Marketing and

Management at the same institute.

They have worked and gotten involved on several creative projects and their work range from

music, drama, creative writing to fashion and street art.

Currently DRG reading for the Bachelor of Business Administration Degree at University of

Colombo and Marasinghe is employed as an Online Marketing Specialist while reading for his

bachelors degree in Business. Their passion for art and films pushed them to produce and

direct this documentary as their first debut production in cinema category.

About Mathawaada Chithrapata

Mathawaada is a collective of various individuals who are experimenting their creative skills in

different areas. Started off as a blog which included several individuals from different aspects of

life expressing their creative talent Mathawaada has taken initiatives in various areas such as

creative writing, drama, fashion, street art and now filming.

More information available at - http://www.mathawaada.com


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Publicity Stills

Download high quality movie images from - http://www.arisethemetaldoc.com

Access the image gallery from - http://www.flickr.com/mathawaada

Movie Trailer/ Bonus MaterialAccess additional bonus interviews and movie trailers from

http://www.arisethemetaldoc.com

http://www.youtube.com/mathawaada


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Behind the Scenes

Interviewing Funeral In Heaven at Empyre Studios

Capturing Cannabis Interviewing Fallen Grace at their practice studio

Fallen Grace Interview with Shivantha, Rakitha and SohanPoster run for Siv Hela gig

Off to Kandy, Aruna, Chalitha and Ayesh


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After the gig Silent night chaos night at club Nuevo, Colombo

Siv Hela Renaissance at Shine, Colombo In Kandy, just before heading out to Sinhanada Gig

Old Arrack

Interviewing Funeral In Heaven Cannabis performing Hang Loose at Sky Lounge, Colombo


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Press Inquires & contact information

Please drop us an e-mail on [email protected]

ARISE- The Sri Lankan Metal Music Documentary (Press Kit)

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